Page 69 of Before We Break

“Well, fuck me for trying.”

Her eyes flare, and she walks away in a huff. “Fuck you, Weston.”

Her voice fades into the distance as she disappears around the corner.

I stride into Branch Out and wait in line behind a few other customers, scanning my surroundings to make sure Clio isn’t here yet.

“Hey, Noah,” Quinn says. “What can I get you?”

“I need a favor.” I take one last glance around the coffee shop, satisfied when I don’t see Clio anywhere. “Can you keep my card on file for when Clio comes in? I want to pay for her coffee.”

Quinn squeals. “Oh, my god. Do you have a crush on Clio?”

“Shhh. Keep your voice down. It’s not like that. I just… I said some stupid shit, and I need to make it up to her.”

“Ok. Whatever you say.” She takes down my information and leaves a note by the register.

She hands me back the card, and I slide it into my wallet. “She can’t know about this.”

“What? How am I supposed to explain it?”

“I don’t know. Make something up. But don’t bring my name into it.”

“Fine. How long do you want me to keep up the ruse?”

Shit. I hadn’t really thought this through. How many coffees does it take to apologize for being an asshole? “A month? Maybe two. I’ll let you know.”

Present day

A pounding at my apartment door tears me away from my sketchbook. In a panic, I stand and answer it. “Clio? Is everything ok?”

“No! You’re a fake, Noah Weston.” She slaps her palm against my chest, sending me stumbling backward a step. She moves closer again, pointing one accusatory finger at me. “You’re a fake, and a phony, and a liar and… and… a good person.”

I throw my hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I mean, yeah. I thought that that was kind of the point of this whole thing.”

She tangles her fist in my T-shirt, and before I can take stock of what’s happening, she plants her lips on mine. My hands fall, inch by inch, hovering in the air for one agonizing moment until I give up the fight and succumb to temptation, wrapping myself around her, pulling her flush against me as I melt into her.

I grab a fistful of her red hair, using it to tilt her head exactly where I want it, deepening the kiss. Her tongue explores my mouth, and I return the favor, savoring her sweetness as my other hand roams over her curves, gripping a handful of her lush ass in my palm.

“Look! I brush-ded my teef!”

Auggie's voice startles us apart. Clio’s delicate hand raises to her lips, a soft smile tugging at the corners. I want to bite the bottom one, but we have a spectator, and it wouldn’t be appropriate.

He’s wearing his favorite dinosaur chicken nugget pjs, and his face is covered in foamy toothpaste as he grins wide enough to show us every single one, his eyes almost disappearing behind his round cheeks.

“Good job,” I sign. “Ready for bed?”

Auggie nods.

Clio’s eyes widen, and she draws in a sharp breath. “You’ve been practicing?”

My cheeks heat, and I clear my throat. “Yeah.”

Her soft hand touches my forearm. “Noah. That’s amazing.”

The touch sends a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins, reminding me what we’d been doing only a moment ago. I want so badly to get back to that—to lose myself in her again. Something about Clio seems to quiet my mind, leaving only thoughts of her behind.

“I should go,” she whispers. “I don’t want to mess up your routine. It’s important for him.”